Exploring the social and cultural dimensions of early Christianity is academically and theologically challenging and is deeply affecting the way I approach scripture and incorporate its meaning into my life as a Christian.

When I started, I was skeptical whether an online class could replicate what happens
face-to-face in the classroom. My experience is that the online community is just as
tight as the on-campus community.

I’ve tried to take reading time over the last few days. Not the kind of “just in time” reading one does for day-to-day production, when a deadline looms; but reading that grounds my vocation, inspires, challenges, humbles, and uplifts. One of my wells from which I’ve drunk for nearly 35 years now is The Christian Century, a magazine published bi-weekly.

A confession. I was shocked to find I had accumulated nearly 20 unread or partially read issues from about the last 14 months (they were not all accumulated in one place; one of the first tasks was to gather them from the bedroom, family room, office, living room, and the basket in the dining room in which all such reading is supposed to be kept). Do the math and you’ll see how little of this “important but not urgent” reading I’ve been doing.

It was a joy to catch up a little with “how my mind has changed” articles from theologians such as Douglas John Hall, book reviews of works I should read (and a few I can cross off my list), a denominational convention decision or two I’d missed, and theological and biblical and pastoral arguments and essays that elicited cheers, boos, and tears. All good!

Thus far this week, I’ve gotten through 13 of the 20 back issues. Mixed in with reading, I’ve been working on institutional and presidential goals for the upcoming year, end of the fiscal year phone calls, personnel matters, and last minute publicity production for the Disciples’ General Assembly. At home, our super active and TALKATIVE 4.75 year old has been housebound in the premature Oklahoma August-in-June heat.

I wonder why I find it hard to find time for the important but not urgent! That said, I feel reacquainted with old friends and reminded of why the conversations a publication such as The Christian Century fosters mean so much to me.

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